London - As England gears up for its third and final Test against South Africa, uncertainty looms over the selection of star batsman Kevin Pietersen.
According to former captain Alec Stewart, Pietesen's decision to retire from one-day cricket, and his subsequent perceived threat to give up playing Tests because of differences with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the players, puts the onus on the latter to take and make the correct decision about KP's international cricket future.
"The most time consuming and frustrating element of the selection meeting will have revolved around Kevin Pietersen. The KP scenario has rapidly developed since he suggested that the next Test could be his last," the Daily Mirror quoted Stewart, as saying in his column.
"So, will they, or won't they pick KP for Lord's, and will it be the last time we see him in an England shirt?" he questioned.
Stewart said that it is imperative that the England Cricket Board makes the right decisions because "everyone must understand that no individual is bigger than the team, or an organization, however good he may be."
"There is history between England and KP, which dates back to when he was stripped of the captaincy after just three Test matches and nine one-day internationals, following a number of
disputes with then team coach Peter Moores at the start of 2009," Stewart writes.
He expressed hope that this ugly situation can be resolved amicably, as KP is a world-class player, whom cricket fans will want to still see perform on the international stage.
"Whenever KP hangs up his bat and calls it a day, he should want to be able to look back on a fantastic career and have no regrets," Stewart said.
| Other Articles: |
 |
Mo Farah dedicates 'double Olympic gold-victory' to unborn twin daughters (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Posh nervous about Olympic closing ceremony gig (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Bolt celebrates Jamaican world relay record with Mo Farah's trademark 'Mobot' act (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Ping-Pong champs `intuitive masters of fluid dynamics` (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Sexism row over `BMWs for the Olympian boys` and none to women (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
'Chastened' KP reverses 'retirement decision' to commit future 'fully to England' (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Cheryl Cole quick to chase up Tom Daley for diving lesson after his Olympic win (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
'Lightening' Bolt keen to help Man U stop Man City from winning another PL (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Study says Muslim nations could host Olympics from 2020 onwards (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
How Jessica Ennis got her gold medal body (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Proud` Brits basking in glory of hosting `spectacular` Games (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Becks marketing guru set to sign up Team GB Olympic heroes (13th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympic athletics: US women power to 4x400m relay gold (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympics: All eyes on Sushil after Yogeshwar's bronze (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympics: Bolt leads Jamaica to record sprint relay gold (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympic handball: Spain slogs to dramatic bronze (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympic basketball: Australia thrashes Russia for women's bronze (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympic athletics: Russia's Lashmanova wins walk in record time (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympic wrestling: Azerbaijan's Asgarov wins gold (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympic athletics: Farah adds 5000m title to 10000m gold (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympic modern penthathon: Svoboda wins gold for Czechs (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympic wrestling: Gold for Azerbaijan's Sharifov (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympic wrestling: Bronze medals for Georgia and Iran (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
Olympic athletics: Russia's Savinova wins gold in women's 800 metres (12th Aug, 2012) |
 |
For Yogeshwar, London was 'now or never' (12th Aug, 2012) |